Remembering Professor William “Bill” Neilson (1938–2025)
Emeritus Professor William (Bill) Neilson passed away peacefully at home in Victoria on July 8, 2025, at the age of 86.
Bill joined the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria in 1976 and served as Dean from 1985 to 1990. He officially retired in 2004, though he remained deeply engaged in academic and international legal work for many years thereafter.
A graduate of the University of Toronto (Commerce), UBC (LLB), and Harvard (LLM), Bill was a passionate educator and public servant. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (CAPI), where he later served as Director and held the CAPI Law Chair. He introduced Canada’s first formal co-operative legal education program and championed international legal exchanges, including student placements in Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Bill’s influence extended far beyond UVic. His work in public sector governance and comparative law took him across the Asia-Pacific, Brazil, and the Balkans, where he led numerous legal reform initiatives. His contributions were recognized with national and international awards, including Vietnam’s Justice Service Medal and Canada’s Internationalization Leadership Award.
Bill was a generous mentor to students and junior faculty, and a warm, spirited presence in the life of the law school. He will be remembered for his deep commitment to education, his global vision, and his enduring kindness.
Read Bill’s obituary in full here.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Monday August 25th from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at the University Club, University of Victoria. A video link will be available for those unable to travel to Victoria.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Bill and Coline Neilson Legacy Fund which supports UVic Law students pursuing exchange opportunities in the Asia Pacific or Australasia region.